Dirigible lamp for automobiles.



W. H. BRiGHT. DIRIGIBLE LAMP FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20, IBIS- Patantedfiept 4, v

E QIEZ@ T g7 inventor I A'ttomeys WILLIAM H. BRIGHT, on snnrocan,VIRGINIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

DTRIGIBLE' LAMP non AUroi/r'oBiLEs.

Patented Sept. ll, 191W.

Application filed ilune 20, I916. Serial N0. 104,733.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \V'mnnrii BRIGHT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bedford in the county of Bedford and State of Virginia, haveinvented a new and useful Dirigibl'e Lamp for Automobiles, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to' dirigible lamps for automobiles and the like,one of the objects of the invention being to provide a resilientconnection between the revoluble lamp bracketsor holders and theconnecting rod of the steering mechanism, whereby motion is transmittedfrom'said' rod to the lamps although such connection will not.in terferewith the steering of the vehicle should the rotation of one or both ofthe lamps be stopped for any reason.

A further object is to provide an attachment which can be appliedreadily to automobiles ofthe Ford type Without requiring the services ofa skilled mechanic.

A. still further object is to provide an attachment which is cheap tomanufacture, is inconspicuous, and which can be easily adjusted so as tomaintain the lamps in position to direct the light rays straight forwardduring the forward movement of the vehicle or toward either side towhich the machine is moving; a

i A still further object is to provide an attachment which will notrattle.-

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within thescope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of theinvention. I

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention hasbeen shown.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a Fordautomobile and showing the present improvement connected up to one lamp.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the attachment, the adjacent portions ofthe vehicle being shown in section.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on line 3-3 Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the complete attachment connected to the stemsof the two lamp holders or brackets, a portion of the vehicle beingshown by dotted lines.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the arms of the attachment.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference R designates aportion of the radiator of a Ford automobile and extending from eachside thereof is a bracket B having a flat intermediate ledge B throughwhich extends the stem S of a lamp carrying yoke Y. The stem has acollar (7 which ordinarily is provided with parallel faces as indicatedby full lines in Fig. 3, one of the straight faces of the collar bearingagainst one side wall of the ledge B so as thus to holdthe stem Sagainst rotation.

The structure constituting the present invention consists of a pair ofarms 1 preferably bowed from end to end and each of which has one endportion flattened as at 2 and provided with a central opening 3, and endopenings 4: and 5. The ends of a rod 6 are pivotally mounted within theopenings i in the two arms, while coiled springs 7 are connected to theopenings in the respective arms 1. Each spring is also attached to afinger 8 extending from an eye 9 made by bending a metal strap, theterminal of the strap being clamped to the finger 8 by a bolt 10 asshown particularly in Fig. 2.

The parts above described constitute a complete attachment designed tobe placed upon the market as an article to be applied readily tovehicles already in use and which does not require the services of askilled mechanic in order to place it in proper position. Obviously theattachment can be made and sold at low cost because of the few parts ofwhich it is composed and the simplicity of construction.

When it is desired to apply the attachment to a Ford automobile, the nutusually provided at the lower end of each stem S is removed and the twostems are lifted out of the bracket B. Those faces of the collars Cwhich normally engage the upstanding wall of ledge B are then filed awayas indicated at O in Fig 3 so that when the stems S are reinserted intothe brackets they will not be held against rotation. After this operation, nuts 11 are placed on the stems close to the bottom faces ofthe brackets B, arms 1 are placed on the lower ends of the stems so thatsaid stems will project through the openings 3, and additional nuts 12are screwed onto the stems so as to clamp the arms 1 tightly in placeand hold them against independent rotation relative to the stems S. Thusthe front ends of the levers or arms 1 will project forwardly so thatthe rod 6 connecting them will extend across the front of the radiatorR. The rear ends of the arms 1 will project below the radiator andterminate practically in vertical alinement with the rod T whichconnects the steering knuckles of the automobile. The bolts 10 areremoved from the fingers 8 and the eyes 9 are slipped into position onthe rod T at points between arms 1. These eyes are adjusted along therod until both springs 7 are placed under practically the same degree oftension after which the bolt 10 is tightened and will cause the eye tobind securely onto the rod T. As the two springs pull in oppositedirections respectively, they constitute efficient power transmittingconnections between the arms 1 and the rod T and they also serve asanti-rattlers inasmuch as they will hold all of the joints tight.Obviously when the vehicle wheels are turned to the right, rod T willpull through one of the springs upon one of the arms 1, thus turningboth of the lamps to the right and, when the machine is turned to theleft the foregoing operation will be reversed. Should the rotation ofthe stems S be interfered with from any cause, as by the lodging ofabranch between thebracket B and the yoke Y or by a stone or otherunyielding object becoming wedged adjacent the lamp, the steering of thevehicle would not be interfered with even though the lamps should notturn, this being due to the fact that the springs will yield under suchconditions. Consequently accidents which have heretofore resulted fromthe obstruction of the movement of dirigible lamps coupled positively tothe steering gear, are avoided.

While the improvements are particularly designed for use in connectionwith Ford automobiles, itis to be understood that they can also be usedin connection with vehicles of other types in which lamps are mounted ina similar manner. i Q

VVh'at is claimed is The combination with an automobile having lampsupporting brackets extending laterally from points adjacent the sidesof the radiator, a stem mounted for rotation in each bracket, lampengaging means upon each stem, and a steering rod extending under theradiator for connecting the knuckles of the front wheels, of downwardlyand rearwardlyextending arms secured to the lower end .of each stem andhaving forwardly extending portions at their upper ends, a rodconnecting said forwardly extending portions, fingers adjustably mountedupon. the rod and arranged under the ra diator, and downwardlyconverging coiled springs connected to the rear ends of the arms and tothe fingers, said-springs being arranged normally in the same verticalplane with the rod.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WVILLIAM BRIGHT.

Witnesses:

IVY E. SIMPsoN, PI-IJLOMENA A. RocKELLI.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. i J

